Rep. Dave Vella

Amends the Transportation Network Providers Act. Deletes language: (i) providing that a Transportation Network Company is not deemed to own, control, operate, or manage the vehicles used by Transportation Network Company drivers, and is not a taxicab association or a for-hire vehicle owner; and (ii) providing that Transportation Network Companies or Transportation Network Company drivers are not common carriers, contract carriers or motor carriers, as defined by applicable State law, nor do they provide taxicab or for-hire vehicle service. Effective immediately.

Establishes the Illinois Flag Commission Act. Creates the Illinois Flag Commission for the purpose of developing new State flag designs and making recommendations to the General Assembly concerning whether the current State flag ought to be replaced with a redesigned State flag. Identifies the members to be appointed to the Commission. Describes the duties of the Commission. Requires the Chair of the Commission to convene the first Commission meeting by no later than September 1, 2023. Requires the Commission to report its recommendations to the General Assembly by no later than December 3, 2024. Provides for the repeal of the Act on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Defines "public health supervision" as the supervision of a public health dental hygienist by a licensed dentist who has a written public health supervision agreement with that public health dental hygienist while working in an approved facility or program that allows the public health dental hygienist to treat patients without a dentist first examining the patient and being present in the facility during treatment who are uninsured and whose household income is not greater than 300% (rather than 200%) of the federal poverty level. Provides that the holder of a faculty limited license may advertise a specialty degree as part of the licensee's ability to practice in a faculty practice. Provides that a licensed dentist or dental hygienist who is a military service member or the spouse of a military service member may receive, without examination, in the discretion of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, a limited military license. Provides that a limited military license issued shall be valid for a period of 2 years and may be extended or renewed based on the military service member's or spouse's duty status. Provides that any person may be granted a license to practice dentistry, a dental specialty, or dental hygiene in the State as a member of the military service which has and maintains a standard for the practice of dentistry at least equal to that now maintained in the State and who has been lawfully engaged in the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene for at least 2 years (rather than 3 of the 5 years) immediately preceding the filing of his or her application, along with other specified requirements. Provides that dental records are the property of the office in which dentistry is practiced. Provides that a dental office that is closing and will not continue to offer dentistry services must provide notice to the public at least 30 days prior to the closure. Provides that the notice to the public shall include an explanation of how copies of the patient's records may be accessed or obtained by the patient. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code to create the Rural Education Advisory Council. Provides that the purpose of the council is to exchange thoughtful dialogue concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural districts and to provide policy recommendations to the State. Sets forth the functions and membership of the council. Contains provisions concerning expenses, meetings, and administrative support.

Amends the General Provisions and Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an authorized agent appointed after the effective date of the amendatory Act must complete a course of training regarding the duties and responsibilities of being an authorized agent no less than 3 months after his or her initial appointment. Provides that the training must be provided by the Fund and made available to all authorized agents online no less than quarterly at no cost to the authorized agent or his or her employer. In a provision that requires a participating municipality or participating instrumentality to make an additional contribution for earning increases greater than 6% or 1.5 times the increase in the consumer price index-u, provides that the Fund shall exclude earning increases due to amounts paid as required by federal or State law or court mandate or earnings increases due to the participating employee returning to the regular number of hours worked after having a temporary reduction in the number of hours worked. Provides that an elected trustee shall not be considered disqualified due to termination of participation if he or she thereafter begins participation with a different participating employer, there is no gap in service credit under the Article, and the trustee continues to meet all eligibility requirements for the same type of trustee position. Makes other changes. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions are effective January 1, 2024.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Makes changes to the probationary periods pertaining to attaining contractual continued service. For the first probationary period, requires the teacher to be employed for 3 (rather than 4) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher receives overall annual evaluation ratings of at least "Proficient" in the second and third school terms (rather than overall annual evaluation ratings of at least "Proficient" in the last school term and at least "Proficient" in either the second or third school term). For the second probationary period, requires the teacher to serve for 2 (rather than 3) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher receives 2 (rather than 3) overall annual evaluations of "Excellent". Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the operator of the ambulance or rescue vehicle shall have documented, specified, training in the operation of an ambulance or rescue vehicle prior to operating that vehicle. In municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or under, requires the siren and lamp or lamps on an ambulance or a rescue vehicle to be in operation at all times when pedestrians and other drivers are present (instead of when it is reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof) during a trip or journey when the ambulance or rescue vehicle is either responding to a bona fide emergency call or specifically directed by a licensed physician to disregard traffic laws in operating the ambulance during and for the purpose of the specific trip or journey that is involved. Provides an ambulance or rescue vehicle shall be operated in complete conformance with other motor vehicle laws and regulations when the speed of the ambulance or rescue vehicle exceeds 25 miles per hour (instead of 40 miles per hour).

Creates the Access to Affordable Insulin Act. Sets forth provisions concerning an insulin urgent-need program. Provides that each manufacturer shall establish procedures to make insulin available to eligible individuals who are in urgent need of insulin or who are in need of assistance to access an affordable insulin supply. Sets forth provisions concerning insulin urgent-need program exceptions, eligibility, forms, applications, claims and reimbursement, copayments, information sheets, navigators, and penalties. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs, provides that an insurer that provides coverage for prescription insulin drugs under the terms of a health coverage plan the insurer offers shall limit the total amount that an insured is required to pay for a 30-day supply of covered prescription insulin drugs at an amount not to exceed $35 (rather than $100). Effective immediately.

Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Provides that an applicant may use an examination alternative to allow the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the independent practice of clinical social work. Provides that the examination alternative shall consist of at least 2 years of supervised professional experience subsequent to obtaining the degree as established by rule. Provides that the examination alternative supervised professional experience shall be in addition to any other supervised clinical professional experience required for licensure. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, an applicant acquiring the examination alternative supervised professional experience must be a licensed social worker or licensed in this State for the practice of school social work prior to acquiring the supervised professional experience. Provides that the Department shall require that a qualified licensed clinical social work supervisor to complete at least 6 hours of continuing education training. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.